Boiler-tube cleaner



J. ZILLIOX.

. Boum TUBE CLEANER.

APPUCATION FILE NOV-14,1919. l v 1 ,363 ,301. Patented Dec. 28, 1920 1'; L?? "17 30 "/@ff/f'fmi /Z I 2L 39 /d\ mf-f:-

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JOHN ZELLIOI, GF ORCHARD ARE, NEW YORK.

nornnarnsn CLEANER.

Application filed November 14, 1919.

To ZZ fio/lam t may concern:

Be it known that ll, Jenn' ZrLLroX, a citizen oi the United States, residing at Orchard Park, in the county o' Erie and State of New York, have invent-ed new and useful improvements in Boiler-Tube Cleaners, of which the ollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a boiler tube cleaner of that type in which a hammer operated by a pressure fluid is employed for removing the incrustation or scale trom the boiler tubes or llues by rapid blows.

lt is the object et this invention to provide a boiler tube cleaner oit' this character whiih contains a considerably liewer number of parts than those heretofore in use for this purpose, and to so organize these parts that the same can be produced at very much lower cost and will operate ethciently and economically without undue wear or liability of getting out of order.

ln the accompanying drawings: Figure l a longitudinal section oii my improved boiler tube cleaner taken on a plane parallel with the direction of movement et the hammer. Fig. 2 is similar view, taken on a plane at right angles to the direction of movement oit' the hammer. Figs. 3, l and 5 are transverse sections taken on tne correspondinely-numbered lines in l. Fig'. 6 is a fragmentary elevation t the slide valve which controls the admission to and the exhaust of the pressure medium from the opposite ends of the power cylinder which forms part et the mechanism for actuating the hammer.

Similar characters oi reference indicate corrcspendingV parts throughout the several views.

The body oit this tube cleaner consists essentially an outer tubular shell or casing` lO and a core or plus1 11 arranoed within the shell. et rear end the shell is provided with an inlet or chamber 12 for steam or similar pressure medium, whereby the movable narts of the tube cleaner are operated and which is supplied to this inlet or chamber by means of a tube 13 or any other suitable means. On the central part et the shell the same is provided with an internal torwarrllv-nroiectina shoulder 14 and at its tron the same is provided with an internal screw thread 15.

The front part of the core is of the same ipecicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1924).

Serial No. 338,025.

external diameter as the bore of the Jfront part o" the shell and fits tightly therein, so as to term practically a steam tight joint therewith. nt the rear end of the enlarged part of the core the same is provided with a rearwardlyacing annular shoulder 16 which bears against the internal shoulder 14-` oi the shell, so as to limit the backward movement of the core in the shell, and these parts are firmly held in this position by means oitl a clamping device mounted on the front end of the shell and engaging with the front end of the core. This clamping or retaining device in its preferred form consists of a ring,- 17 having,` an external screw thread which engages with the internal thread 15 of the shell and bears with its rear side against the front end of the core. 1n order to prevent this retaining or clampins ring from becoming loose under the vibrations to which the same is subjected while the tube cleaner is in use, a locking device is provided which preferably consists oli a locking pin 18 having an external screw threaded rear end which engages with an opening' 19 in the front end of the core while its front part is adapted to engage with one or another of a lurality of notches 2O arranged in an annuliar row in the inner edge of the retaining ring 17, as shown in Figs. 1 2 and 3. A suhcient number of these notches is provided in the retaining ring, so that when the same has been tightened firmly against the core as is necessary to hold the latter in place, one or the other ot these notches will be either in line with the pin openingr 19 in the core or adi acont thereto, so that but a slight loosening ot the ring` is necessary in order to permit of engaging); the locking" pin 18 with the oneninp: 19 and the adiacent notch 20 of the ring'.y so that thereafter this ring is positively held against unscrewins. In order to prevent the locking' pin 18 from unscrewine? under the vibrations to which the same is subiefted, a Cotter nin or key 21 is passed through the outer end of the looking pin 18, which key or .potter pin is adapted to engage with the adiacent inner side or bore of the retaining rino 17 and thus prevent the lockino nin from unscrewing.

The rear part 22 of the core is reduced as compared with the front part thereof, so as term an annular space between the same n s can and the adjacent inner wall or bore of the shell which constitutes the inlet or pressure chamber 12 of the apparatus. This reduced part of the core is preferably provided With two Hat parallel outer sides or faces 23 one of which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, is engaged by a lug 2a formed on the inner side or the shell and operates to hold the core against turning in the shell and thus avoids displacement of the parts relatively to each other.

Within this reduced rear part of the core is formed a transverse cylindrical slide valve guide-seat 25 which opens at its opposite ends into the inlet chamber l2, so as to admit the pressure medium thereto. Adjacent to the front end of the enlarged part of the core the latter is provided with a transverse power cylinder 26 which forms part of the motor ywhereby the movable parts of the tube cleaner `.are actuated. The opposite ends of this power cylinder are closed by the adjacent parts of the shell or casing l0 which form heads for this cylinder. Each end of the power cylinder is connected on one side with the corresponding` end of the cylindrical valve seat 25 on the :trent side of the latter by means which conduct the pressure medium from the valve seat to the respective end of the power cylinder and back again, these conducting means being preferably constructed in the form of a multiple port or passage, which in its preiterred form consists oiE three sections 27 arranged lengthwise side by side in the core and extending from the iront side ot the circular valve seat to the rear side oi" the power cylinder, as shown in 1, fl and 5. The front part of each of these conduit sections incline inwardly from the respective end oi the power cylinder toward the axis of the tube cleaner while the rear part thereof is parallel with this axis, thereby bringing the rear ends of the supply passages on opposite sides of the axis of the cleaner closer together so as to require a shorter valve Jror controlling the same, whiie the front ends of the two sets of these passages are spread apart in order to reach the extremities of the power cylinder. Each of these several conduit sections is preferably bored by means of a tool which enters the core through one of the outer ends ot the power cylinder which operates to produce the inclined front part of the respective supply passage, while the parallel rear part thereof is produced by a similar operation of a boring tool which approaches the core from the rearend of the enlarged part of the core. By thus forming each of the supply passages in the form of a plurality of bored sections instead of forming each of these passages in one section, it is possible to produce the core of hard material such as steel 'by machining the same 'instead of pro ducing this particular member in the forni of a casting which is inferior for this par-Y ticular work.

Extending lengthwise through the iront or enlarged part ofthe core from the central part of the front side of the sliding valve seat to the front end of the core is an outlet yor exhaust passage which consista of two curved central parts 28 extending around the central part of the power cylinder, a longitudinal rear part 29 extending `from the curved parts 28 to the central part of the valve seat between the supply passages 2'7, and a longitudinal front part 3i) extending from the front ends o1 the curve-1l parts 28 to the front end of the core.

31 represents a power piston which is arranged in the power cylinder 26 and which is reciprocated therein by alternately admitting the pressure medium into and ez'- hausting the same from the opposite ends oi this cylinder. This piston is preferably provided in its opposite ends with cavities 32 for the purpose orp making the same r light as possible and thereby reducing to a minimum the inertia of the piston as the same is reciprocated, so as to avoid undue wear on the parts as well as eliminating unnecessary noise due to the constant reversal in the movement of this piston in this cylinder. The pressure medium is alternately admitted from the inlet chamber l2 to opposite ends of the power cylinder and also alternately exhausted from the opposite ends of the latter through the exhaust passage the core by means oi a valve 33 which is of cylindrical form and reciprocates transversely in the guideway This slide valve is provided on its front side with a cavity 3d which faces that side of the bore of the seat 25 into which the rear ends of the supply passages 2? and the exhaust passage oi the core open. The length of the slide valve 33 and its cavity 3d are so determined that when this valve is in its uppermost position, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5, the lower end of this valve will uncover the lower ports or passages 27 and permit the pres` sure medium to pass from the inlet or supply chamber 12 into the lower end of the cylinder 26 for raising the piston7 while the cavity 34 oi the valve connects the rear end of the upper set of ports 27 with the rear end of the exhaust passage and thereby permits the spent pressure medium to escape Jfrom the upper end of the power cylinder to the atmosphere at the front end of 'the apparatus. When the slide valve 33 is in its lower or reverse position from that shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the upper set of ports 2T will be placed in communication with the pressure suuply chamber 12 and permit the pressure medium to enter. the upper end of the power cylinder for driving the piston therein downwardly whilethe car/ity r34C of the slide valve places the lower set of ports 27 in communication with the exhaust passage and thereby permits the spent pressure medium to escape from the lower end olf the power cylinder to the atmosphere.

ln order to hold the slide valve firmly against that side oitl its seat which contains the ports 27 and the exhaust passage, an opening, 35 is formed in the contracted rear part of the core leading;` from the rear side oli' the valveseat to the pressure supply chamber l2, so that the pressure medium is permitted to bear against the rear side or' the valve and force the same forwardly against the Afront side of this seat, thereby maintaining a tight joint between the 'front side of this valve and the corresponding side of the valve seat, so that leakage between these two members is positively prevented and the maximum efficiency from the pressure medium tor operating the tube cleaner is obtained.

Means are provided for alternately shiiting` the slide valve 33 in opposite directions by motion which is derived from the power piston, which means are so constructed that they also serve to produce the blows against the tubes whereby the scale or incrustation thereon is removed. As shown in Figs. L5, these means comprise a longitudinal hammer lever extending; lengthwise through the exhaust passage and through a longitudinal opening` 236 formed dia-metrically in the power piston and having` a rear arm 37 which is operatively connected with the valve, and a Jfront arm 38 which extends forwardly beyond the body ot the tube cleaner and is provided at its iront end with a hammer head 89 which is adapted to strike the boiler tubes or fines for cleaning; the same. Between its front and rear arms this hammer lever is pivotally mounted upon the core between the power piston and the slide valve by means ot a pin 40 which extends through ari-opening in the hammer lever and is journaled at its opposite ends in bearing' openings ll formed in the adjacent part of the core, thereby termina` a pivotal connection between the hammer lever and the core which pern'iits the hammer lever to swine` :rosswise ot the body. it its rear end the rear ari'n ot the hammer lever is provided with a spherical enlargement or knuckle e2 which engages with a cylindrical recess 43 termed in the central part ot the valve 533 and extending; rearwardly from the bottom ot the cavity 34 therein, thereby iorminp; a pivotal connection between this relire :in d the hammer lever whereby motion npa ,ed to the valve and still permits the valve to move in a rectilinear path while the knuckle l? moves in a circular path.

lli/lithin the diametrieal opening oi the piston the hammer lever is provided with a spherical enlargement or knuckle 4t2 which lits this cylindrical opening and forms a sliding connection between the hammer lever and the piston, so that motion is transmitted from the piston to the hammer lever but the latter is permitted to work in the piston the requisite extent to avoid any binding action. lt will be obvious from this construction that when the front arm of the hammer lever is moved upwardly from the piston indicated in Fig. l by the admission oi the pressure fluid underneath the piston 3l, that the rear arm oi' this lever will at the same time move the valve 33 downwardly, while upon moving7 the piston 3l downwardly the valve will be moved upwardly, thereby continually reversing the connections between the pressure supply and opposite ends of the power cylinder, and between the latter and the exhaust while the apparatus is in operation.

'll he hammer lever, together with the hammer head and the knuckles l2 and fill formed on the rear and iront arms thereof, are all formed out of' a single piece ot metal in any suitable manner, thereby not only si ipliliying the construction but also reducing the number of parts which enter into the composition oi' the cleaner and also avoiding' loosening of any parts which otherwise would be liable to occur it the same were made separate and connected with each other. rlhe making' ot the hammer lever 'together with its coupling; knuckles and hammer head in one piece and the proper assemblage of the same with the core, piston and valve is rendered possible by makingA the several parts of the hammer progressively smaller 'from its front end toward its rear end, that is to say, the hub lo oit the lever which receiif'es the pin LO is ci smaller' diameter than the :front knuckle #lil which engages with the piston, and the rear knuckle 4t2 is of smaller diameter than the hub 45, thereby permitting the lever to be passed through the core, the piston and into the slide valve 33 from the tront'end of ythe core toward the rear end thereof` and also permidtingi` the hammer head 39 to be formed integrally with the hammer lever.

As a whole the organization ott this boiler tube cleaner comprises iew parts. the same cooperate in a manner which permits ot producinp,` a poweri'iul blow oit the hammer which operates to ei'liciently clean the tubes, and the several parts are so disposed as to produce a minimum wear on the same as well as utilize the pressure medium most efficiently and economically.

I claim as my invention:

1. A boiler tube cleaner comprising; a body having' an inlet at its rear ond Jfor a pressure medium, a transverse slide valve seat in its rear part, a transvers-:e motor cylinder in its 'liront part, supply passages connecting opposite ends of the valve seat with opposite ends ot the cylinder, and an eX- haust passage extending from the central partici said valve seat to the front end of the body, a transverse pivot pin arranged on the body between said cylinder and valve seat, a piston arranged in said cylinder and provided with a diametrical opening, a slide valve movable on said seat and having a cavity on its rear side and adapted to connect said inlet and exhaust passage alternately with said supply passages and provided in the bottom of said cavity with a recess, and a hammer having a lever which is arranged in said exhaust passage and mounted on said pin and provided with a rear arm having a spherical rear end which engages with said recess, and a front arm provided intermediate of its ends with a spherical enlargement which engages with said opening in the piston and provided at its front end with a hammer head, said lever and its head and spherical enlargements being constructed of a single piece, the spherical enlargement on the rear arm of the hammer lever being smaller than the spherical enlargement on the front arm of the same.

2. A boiler tube cleaner comprising a body having an outer tubular shell and an inner core, said shell being provided at its rear end with an inlet for a pressure medium, said core being provided at its front end with a transverse power cylinder, at its rearend with a reduced portion containing a transverse cylindrical valve seat, longitudinal supply passages connecting the correspending outer ends of the valve seat and power cylinder and an exhaust passage eX* tending forwardly from the central part of the valve seat, a lug arranged on the inner side of said shell and engaging said reduced rear part of the core, a piston arranged in said cylinder, a cylindrical slide valve engaging said seat, and a hammer having a lever pivoted on said core and provided with a rear arm which engages said valve and a front arm which engages said piston, and a hammer head arranged on the front arm of the hammer lever.

3. A boiler tube cleaner comprising a body having an outer tubular shell and an inner core, said shell being provided at its rear end with an inlet for a pressure medium, said core being provided at its front end with a transverse power cylinder, at its rear end with a reduced portion containing a transverse cylindrical valve seat and an opening` extending from the rear side of the central part of said valve to said inlet, longitudinal supply passages connecting the corresponding outer ends of the valve seat and power cylinder and an exhaust passage extending forwardly from the central part of the valve seat, a lug arranged' on the inner side of said shell and engaging said reduced rear part or" the core, a piston arranged in said cylinder, a cylindrical slide valve engaging said seat, and a hammer having a lever pivoted on said core and provided with a rear arm which engages said valve and a front arm which engages said piston, and a hammer head arranged on the front arm of the hammer lever. y il. A boiler tube cleaner comprising a body having an outer tubular shell and an inner core, said shell being provided at its rear end with an inlet 'for a pressure medium and in front of its rear end with an internal forwardly facing shoulder, and said core being provided on its rear part with a rearwardly facing shoulder which engages with said shoulder of the shell, a power piston mounted to slide transversely on said core, means for supplying a pressure medium to and exhausting the same alternately from opposite ends of said piston, a hammer lever mounted on said body and operatively connected with said piston and valve and provided at its front end with a hammer head, a retaining' ring having an external screw thread engaging with an internal thread on the front end of the shell and bearing against the front end of said core and provided on its inner edge with a plurality of notches arranged in an annular row, and a locking pin detachably mounted on the front end of said core and engaging with one or another of the notches in said retaining ring. 5. A boiler tube cleaner comprising a body having an outer tubular shell and an inner core, said shell being provided at its rear end with an inlet for a pressure medium and in front of 4its rear end with an internal forwardly facing shoulder, and said core being provided on its rear part with a rearwardly facing shoulder which engages with said shoulder of the shell, a power piston mounted to slide transversely on said core, means for supplying a pressure medium to and exhausting the same alternately from opposite ends of said piston, a hammer lever mounted on said body and operatively connected with said piston and valve and provided at its front end with a hammer head, a retaining` ring having an external screw thread engaging with an internal thread on the front end of the shell and bearing against the front end oi said core and provided on its inner edge with a plurality oi notches arranged in an annular row, a locking pin having a screw connecting with said core and adapted to engage with one of the notches in said ring, and a key passing through the front endpogt said locking pin.

JOHN ZILLIOX. 

